Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Charles McPherson: The Journey

Charles
McPherson is another of the venerable jazz musicians who has become an icon in
the music world, but remains largely unknown to the general public. He’s one of
the few remaining “survivors” of the pure bebop saxophone artists who were
active with stars such as Charles Mingus, Barry Harris and Art Farmer.

McPherson’s
association with Clint Eastwood brought the saxman back into the spotlight; he
was commissioned to help record the soundtrack for Bird, Eastwood’s 1988 biographical film about Charlie Parker.

This
album, McPherson’s newest, is the result of a chance meeting that occurred at a
jazz clinic held at Colorado’s Denver Jazz Club Dazzle. Encounters with Keith Oman,
a high school tenor sax instructor, along with some local musicians — pianist
Chip Stephens, bassist Ken Walker, drummer Todd Reid — led to a recording
session that produced this release.

Three
of the tunes (“Manhattan Nocturne,” “The Journey” and “Bud Like”) are McPherson
originals. “Elena” and “Tami’s Tune” are by Oxman; “The Decathexis from Youth
(For Cole)” is composed by Stephens; and “Au Privave” comes from Charlie
Parker. Two standards — “Spring Is Here” and “I Should Care” — round out the
menu.

This
album is a wonderfully performed visit to the past ... although I should note
that very little separates today’s straight-ahead jazz from the bop that ruled
from the 1950s through the ’90s. Everything, whether up-tempo or ballad, swings
nicely.

This
is a great release, delivered by artists who clearly
enjoy what they’re doing.